Developing OCOP products is a breakthrough for cooperatives.

Ca Mau Ca Mau develops OCOP products to increase value for cooperatives, helping to increase income, expand markets and affirm the core role of the collective economy.

Recently, the collective economy in Ca Mau has recorded many positive changes when cooperatives not only support farmers in organizing production but also represent them in signing contracts with businesses, from supplying materials to consuming products. People's trust in the collective economic model has therefore been increasingly strengthened.

Mr. Pham Van Thieu (white shirt), Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee - Chairman of the People's Council of Ca Mau province, visited the booth displaying OCOP products. Photo: Trong Linh.

Agricultural cooperatives continue to affirm their important role in creating concentrated production areas, large fields and large-scale raw material areas. This is the foundation for applying technical advances to production according to standard processes; at the same time, cooperatives contribute to forming a stable source of goods for the market, participating deeply in the value chain, solving employment, increasing income and sustainably reducing poverty in rural areas.

Not stopping at supporting production - consumption linkage, many cooperatives have proactively invested in processing and perfecting products according to OCOP standards to increase the value of agricultural products and create more jobs for members.

Currently, the whole province of Ca Mau has 51 cooperatives with 123 products from rice, shrimp, seafood, salt... that have completed packaging, labels and met OCOP standards. Of these, there are 98 3-star OCOP products and 25 products that meet OCOP 4-star standards. Being certified as OCOP helps the cooperative's products to participate more deeply in the market, expand output and increase value.

Mr. Trinh Dat Duy, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Vinh Thanh Cooperative (Vinh Hau Commune), said: “After achieving OCOP, the Cooperative’s orders are more numerous and stable. During peak times such as holidays and Tet, members have to work twice as hard to meet demand. Thanks to that, income has also increased significantly.”

In Vinh My commune, Thanh Son Cooperative is one of the units actively developing OCOP products, especially products from ecological shrimp. According to Mr. Tran Van Ngo, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director of Thanh Son Cooperative, OCOP opens up great opportunities for the Cooperative to standardize products and access a wider market. After the product was recognized as 3-star OCOP, the number of customers increased, especially specialty stores and distribution businesses.

"The most important thing is that the reputation of the cooperative has increased, members have more confidence and are bold in investing in improving the quality of growing and farming areas. We are continuing to complete the documents to upgrade the product to 4-star OCOP next year, and at the same time, invest in more preservation equipment to meet the strict requirements of the market," said Mr. Ngo.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Tran Trung Hieu, Director of Ba Men Cooperative (An Trach commune) commented: "Developing OCOP products not only increases value but also creates

more jobs, increase income for members. This is the direction to help cooperatives develop sustainably".

Identifying OCOP as an important goal, the Provincial Cooperative Union has actively supported units to register new products in recent times. Mr. Nguyen Van Vu, Chairman of the Cooperative Union of Ca Mau province, informed: "In addition to supporting loans for economic development, the Union always accompanies and creates conditions for cooperatives to develop OCOP products, contributing to expanding membership and production scale. Currently, many cooperatives are taking advantage of this support to register to build OCOP products. At the same time, the Union also encourages and supports cooperatives to upgrade their products to 4 stars to be able to reach further in the market."

Bon bon melon of Minh Duy Cooperative, Dong Hung Hamlet, Hung My Commune meets 3-star OCOP product standards. Photo: Trong Linh.

Although the number of cooperatives participating in OCOP is not large, the results achieved in recent times have created an important foundation for replicating the model. Reality shows that cooperatives are changing strongly, not only being a bridge between farmers and businesses but also becoming the direct subject bringing agricultural products to consumers, expanding the market.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/phat-trien-san-pham-ocop-la-buoc-dot-pha-cho-htx-d784196.html